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PUBLISHED BV 

A. Newman Lockwood, 
New York. 



DEC 23 1884 I 



Copyright, 

1884. 

By a. Newman Lockwood. 



THE MORNING BREATH OF JUNE. 



A POEM. 




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ILLUSTRATED BY 





C. J. TAYLOR AND E. J. MEEKER. 



^ 



A. Newman Lockwood, 
New York. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Its towering greatness, 

Gains her new Life, 

The currency of day is Gold, 

On Blades of Grass, 

The Morning Breath of Early June, 

'Twas wind wooed, 

The Breather dreams. 

The Nun whose days, 

From the painting of the Nun by 

While at the Eve, 
Could we like Joshua, 
Nor could cold element, 



E. 

E. 



Artist. 
J. Meeker 
J. Meeker 
E. J. Meeker 
E. J. Meeker 
E. J. Meeker 
E. J. Meeker 
C. J. Taylor 

E. Crony n 

E. J. Meeker 

C. J. Taylor 



From painting Hero and Leander by Ferdmaud Ivoller 



On Sixteenth Morn, 
Locked in each other's arms, 
Drifted to Shallows, 
Mid other wrecks. 
And when the Angel, 
They lingered Captives, 
When eyes more dazzling, 
O'er Rustic Bridge, 
When Feathered Choristers, 
Worn with the revels. 
Carry her prayer to God, 
"A thousand times" Good-By, 



C. J. Taylor 

C. J. Taylor 

E. J. Meeker 

E. J. Meeker 

C. J. Taylor 

C. J. Taylor 

C. J. Taylor 

E. J. Meeker 

E. J. Meeker 

C. J. Taylor 

C. J. Taylor 

C. J. Taylor 



T T 
WW 



^HB Morning 



Bre4Th of Junb. 

'T^HERE is a inount upon an island home, 

That feels at once the influence of each zone; 
Its towering greatness shadows neighlior isles, 
And Whiter chills, while round it Summer smiles. 
Its crest is frigid in eternal snow, 
Its swelling hreasts with temperate fruits overflow, 
While its broad l»ase, the naked native's home, 
Broils in the sunnner of a torrid zone. 



TT APP Y our land, where all the seasons range, 

Where hlest and strengthened l)y successive change 
We do not envy in Ids hut of snow, 
The dreamless slumber of tlie Es(|uiinaux; 
Nor the proud Tui'k t(» lust and hi.xui-y hound 
By circling sunnjiers in their endless round. 
Happy oui' land, the 'oroad Atlantic's door. 
Opens to usher in the changing four — 
Spring, Sunnnei', Autunni, Wintei'; and again 
A repetition of the varied train. 

In smiles and tears, sunshine and shower doth ])ring 
Bulbs to the l)ii-th couch of prolific spring; 
And l)ul]»s and huds to flowering fruits expand, 
Buildiuii; a Heaven witldn our sunnner land: 




"Its towering greatness shadows neighbor isles, 
And winter chills, while round it summer smiles. 



And Smiiiiier's treasures Autumn's lap doth hold, 
Till, by her magic thoj are changed to gold; 
When fruit-cloyed nature, surfeited to death', 
Gains her new life from Winter's bracing breath. 
Each has his favorite season. 
Weatlier epicui-es may name 
May or Septeml)er, and assert their claim; 
Lovers' and poets' harps ai"e most attune 
When thou hast touched them; 
Moi'ning Breath of June. 

^ A /"IIERE'ER the sun or moon doth range, 

Twixt the low Earth or vaulted Heaven, 
God hath a medium of exchange. 




"Gains her new life from winter's bracing breath " 



To mortals and iuiniortals given. 

The currency o£ day is geld, 

Displayed in beams of light; 

Swift passing through a different mould, 

Silver's the coin of night. 

' I 'IS night! The amorous God <»f day 

From earth hath turned his face away, 
While silence with the darkness creeps 
O'er la])or-resting man; 
The lonesome Heaven alxjve him weeps, 
Lamenting day's short span. 
A thirsty earth drinks tears of dew. 
Yet generously leaves a few 



Ha* 




"The currency of day is gold, displayed on beams of light; 

Swift passing through a different mould silver's the coin of night.' 



On l)la(les of grass, ou violet's head, in lily's cup; 
Nature to nature kind, it kuew 
That a returuini;- morrow's sun, 
^wift traveling to the heat of noon. 
In thirst, at need, would take them up. 

'"PIIE Mornhig Breath of early June 

Rose sweet from meadows full in hlooni; 
Like spice hanpie on the Indian seas, 
'Twas caught and carried l>y the l>reeze, 
'Twas win<l-wooed, till at length it Iti'oke 
Upon tlie city's (U.^tant towers. 
To mingle with the dust and smoke; 
Its aii'v t-kirmishers sti-av in 




"On blades of grass, on violets head, in lily's cup." 



The drear abodes of Avaut and siii. 

Unl)iddeii i^iiest of rich and poor, 

Essence of joy and health, 

Fh)od throuo-h the casement and the door, 

Unpurchasal ile wealth! 

Then 1»reak a<j;'ain with l)lessings fnll 

Upon the noxions hospital: 

Impatient nurse, so swift to seek 

And kiss the exhausted sleeper's cheek. 

To fan away tlie fever l)reath, 

To check the clannny sweat of death; 

Till lost in atmospliere so rare, 

The hreather dreams 'tis childhood's air; 

His trooping thoughts go wandering ])ack 




"The morning breath of early June, 
Rose sweet from meadows full in bloom." 



Across life's winding desert track. 

All present troubles are forgot, 

While memory revels in that dearest spot — 

Amhition cares no more to roam. 

His ward is Heaven, his conch is home. 

Great non-respecter, ever thus 

Breathe thou on purity and lust, 

Baptize the just and the unjust. 

' I 'HE nun, whose days and nights are spent 

In prayers and vigils long, 
Steps from her cell at dawn, to hear 
The church bells' matin song. 
Why are their songs at mornin<ii; time 



»t 



/ ^ 




"Twas wand wooed till at length it broke, 

Upon the city's distant towers, 

To min£rle with the dust and smoke." 



Purer than vespers' softer chime? 
Why does she morn's delight to hear? 
Why are they sweeter to her ear? 
Is it Ijecanse in morning gray 
They carol birth of holy day, 
Wliile at the eve in mournful strain 
They toll its funeral dirge again? 
Yes; 'tis thy Morning Breath, O June, 
That sets them to a different tune; 
Bathed in its atmosphere of balm. 
They sing to her a holier psalm; 
Thy virgin perfume tills their lungs. 
Its freshness swells their throats. 
Its kisses tip 




'The breather dreams 'tis childhood's air." 



Each l)razen lip, 

Its moisture wets their iron tongues, 

Changing tlieir very notes. 

T~\IJ) fairies, with discretion I'are, 

Compound thy tinctures in the air? 
Was it thv 1 wreath, so soft and cool, 
Troubled Bethesda's sacred pool^ 
Made its calm l)reast for man to heave, 
And all his pangs and pains i-elieve^ 
Its passive ])Osom for him feel^ 
The malady of sin to heal? 

/'^OULD we, like Joshua, at will 
Bid the red marker of the day 









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' 'Steps from her cell at dawn to hear, 
The church bells matin sons;." 



To stay his march, and stand as still 
As the fixed stars that line his way — 
Tlien might we, Morning Breath of Jnne, 
Retain thy presence and perfume — 
In early morn's perpetual glow 
Maintain a rival heaven below. 

T love to trace the doubtful dates 

Of deeds for heaven done. 
Back to this month, and say they were 
Born of June's breath and sun. 
Above all creeds, to angel deeds 
Man's quickened spirit soars, 




"While at the eve in mournful strain^ 
They toll its funeral dirge again." 



When June's Morn-Breath, fl(io(ls wood and heath, 
And through hiis being pours. 

T F bohl Leander had essayed in June 

To cross tliy wave, tliou treacherous Hellespont, 
I think its l)reath, essence of life in 1»looni, 
Through surging waters safe had borne him up, 
To let possession, with its holy fire, 
To summer, change his winter of desire: 
Nor could cold element, nor jealous Jove, 
Gain such a victory over venturing love. 
Perchance 'twas June. What mortal can gainsay? 
Perhaps the witchery of her winning l)reath 
Lit passiou-tires that sluml)ering in him lay, 




"Could we like Joshua, at will bid the red marker of the day 
To stay his march and stand as still." 



And impulse drove him to his fated death. 

Heroes of love! upon their grave to-day 

June's breath doth nourish laurel trees and hay. 

Let envious deities of sea and grove, 

Charge not on June such crime 'gainst human love. 

June was not witness to their death; 

No sensuous odors to despoil her hreath, 

Welled from the honeyed sips 

Of the pale Hero, when she lay 

Beneath the ^\•ave, and kissed away 

Her life upon his lips. 

T UNE is the Breath (i love— 
A paradox I state; 



Sometimes its wings fling venumed stings, 

And then 'tis ninrderons hate. 

On sixteenth morn, it tired 

The soul of Marshal Ney; 

Reckless of life t<» hopeless fight 

Round Quatre Bras all day. 

Before the seventeenth sun 

Had pierced the morning mists, 

That like concealing shroud, still hung 

Above the a^^'ful lists — 

'Twas June's Morn Breath that came 

And rent the veil in 'twain, 

To And its victims slain. 

"Wave after wave, through wood, o'er plain. 



Eeliictaiitlj the sweet breath came. 

It came, Init could not stay; 

Yet stooped and kissed those that wei'e missed 

At l)ui;'le-call next day. 

f~\^ iield of sorro\\', deatli, and strife; 

Rest, l)reath of peace, and joy, and life; 
It came, l)ut left them there, 
In the unchanging state — 
Their faces l>lack with hate; 
Locked in each other's arms, dissembling love, 
It left them there — 
The l)are-kneed Highlander, and mail-clad Cuirassier, 




"Nor could cold element nor jealous Jove, 
Gain such a victory over venturing love. " 



C^ EM of the smnmei'! thy repentant l>reath 
Consoles the widow in the tcnl of yeaiv-: 
Thy softest babn sliall heal the wonnds of death, 
Aided ])y time, has dried the orphan's tears. 

ID RE ATI! of Deceit! thy aromatic; gales, 

In early Junes tilled fal)led voyagers' sails, 
Till the lured Sinbads, l)y its suasions moved. 
Turned prows to pleasui-e, and lent helms to love; 
Threw to the sea safe (M)mpass and sure chart. 
And far away from useful labor's mai't. 
Drifted to shallows, where, from distance dim, 
The coyest sirens send entichig hynm. 
Chase the swift mermaids as they swinnning play, 




"On sixteenth morn it fired the soul of Marshal Ney, 
Reckless of life to hopeless fight round Quartre Bras all day." 



Whose eves are guide-lights, and whose path-the way. 

Grudging the future of the bliss it stores, 

Aid languid breezes with impatient oars. 

Thy sensuous zephyrs promise them delights — 

Arcadian groves, and Brandan's fairy sights. 

Blind with desire, unheeding how they steer. 

See not the Scylla and Cliaryl)dis near: 

Deaf for all senses, in one passion lost. 

Hear not the breakers thundering on the coast; 

Till hand of Satan, rising from the deep. 

Hurls their frail barques against the stormy steep, 

'Mid other wrecks that sailed some fair June day, 

And left discretion's rules for passion's sway: 

While sorrowing sea-nymphs, rising from their caves, 




"Locked in each others' arms dissembling love, it left them there." 



To inarl>le wliiteness, lash contending waves. 
There ever lie, lit monuments to prove 
That lustful pleasure is not heaven-hlest love. 

^ I 'HE pale consumptive, thinks the Breath of June 

Shall to his cheek restore health's vanished hloom; 
In anxious hope how doth his soul expand; 
Anticipation scents its zephyrs bland. 
Poor child of suffering-, it, hy God's command, 
Shall hear thee quickly to a better land, 
Where living flowers in endless glory l)loom, 
Whose only season is the morn of June. 
There is no winter there, 
Nor tickle spring. 




"Drifted to shallows, where from distance dim, 
The coyest sirens send enticing hymn." 



Nor uutunin of decay; 
For June's warm l)rentli 
Doth Itanisli death, 
From the eternal day. 

TDHOPIIETIC Breath, laden with Eden l)alm, 
It came each morn' to hi-eak the sinless calm 
Of Eve's soft >lnml)er>. 

And when the an^-el, with the Hamini;- sword, 
Drove the tii'st pair from presence of the Lord, 
It followed them; 
• And once each year it comes 
To cheer Eve's children in their earthly homes: 
To fan thv flame, Hemembrance, 




"Mid other wrecks that sailed some fair June day, 
And left discretion's rules, for pjfssion's sway." 



And bid the meek to hope; 
When earth to heaven is chang:ed, 
When sinless man hath Paradise rei!:ained, 
'Twill he this lost inheritance. 

T^mST-BORN of summer, daughter of the Sun! 
Thou wert tlie cause when woman was undone; 
It was thv hreatli and hlandishments alone 
That led her williuir captive fVom her throne. 
The Amazons, at least so legends say, 
Held tlieir men-captives till the month of May, 
And after pairing, did theii- victims slay. 
r>nt waiting once till June had spread her charms, 
They lingei-ed captives in their captives' arms. 










"And when the angel with the flaming sword, 
Drove the first pair from presence of the Lord, 
It followed them." 



' I ^HE changeless iceberg, anchor-locked and fast. 
Moored to its place throngh ages that are past, 
So many winters down its slopes liave run, 
Resists with ease, the influence oi the sun, 
Till loosed at last by some chance polar gale. 
For tropic seas majestically shall sail; 
Feel June's soft land breeze, 
Fresh from l)lossomed trees, 
Turn to pure crystal. 
Melt to swell the seas. 

So doth Thy Breath change selfish Innnan hearts; 
Turns thoughts from self, l)enevolence imparts. 
Released from self, e'en coldest natures prove 
They have no weapon 'gainst thy clasp <jf l()\'e. 




LJT:.Jor nr 



* 'They lingered captives in their captives arms. " 



T OV'ST thou a maid 

That long has held her heart 
Beyond tlie i-each of any gidlant's art? 
Press not thj suit at marriage feast, or 1)all; 
Distracted beauty will not heed Love\s call 
When eyes more dazzling than the jeM'els l)right 
Flash liack on torches a surpassing light; 
AVhen the deep flagon and plethoric l)Owl 
Fill with false fancies elevated soul, 
Nor in the mazes of the mystic dance, 
E'en Cupid's darts there often fly askance; 
Nor at day's acme seek secluded bower. 
For the high noon is not Love's promised hour. 
Trust not thy fortune in the serenade — 



Night is the time for coiiteuiplation made. 

Ask her to walk with thee on June's tirst morn, 

Just when, in glory, summer's month is born; 

Like Eve and Adam, wander hand in hand 

Through glistening gardens Shenstone might have planned; 

O'er rustic bridge that spans the mimic Hood, 

l)(»wn where the hy-paths interlace the wood, 

Where feathered choristers from bush and sod, 

Warble a chorus to a listening God. 

Thei'e in His temple, l)oldly then and there, 

In holy contidence repeat Love's prayer; 

The long resisting-one shall grant the l)Oon: 

A coiKjuering ally is the Breath of June. 



TD EMAINING fragranc-e of May's violet tomb, 

Brooding o'er summer's earliest bloom, 
From grassy altars ever rise 
Accepted incense to the skies. 
Delicious Breath, can all the amorous East 
Thy power augment, thy Heavenly wealth increase? 
Can all the spies of Aral)ia rare, 
Add to the sAveetness of thy sunnner air? 
Precious as ointment that ran down 
From Aaron's beard to Aaron's gown; 
Odorous as ointment woman showered 
•Upon the head of Christ the Lord; 
Estrayed from Eden, e\'er drift 
With us, round us, pi-iceless gift. 



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"When eyes more dazzling than the jewels bright." 



' I UlE scarlet womuii — 

God erase liei- criiiie — 
Drops oil dish()U()i-ed couch at moriiinii; time, 
Worn Avitli the revels of the niaskiiiii- iiiu-ht: 
Her painted cheek shuns day's disclosino- lit^lit. 
She sleeps — 

From Mercy's wings the Breath of June 
Through l)i-oken j)ane drifts in and tills the room. 
Slie dreams of happier hours Itefore she fell; 
She stands anotliei- woman at the well: 
On pastui'es new licr pardoned soul liath hurst, 
One hids her (h'ink and never after thirst. 
Long-, and in vain, shall lecherous passer-l)y, 
Look to her house for beckoning liand and eye, 




"O'er rustic bridge that spans the mimic flood, 
Down where the by-paths interlace the wood." 



While chaster sisters, with a denion"'s scorn, 
Point her to Hell, and bar her from i-eforin. 
Shake the contiguous dust from off their feet. 
Gather their skirts and leave her in the street. 
Forgive her! 'tis her woman spirit cries 
To Heaven, appealing from this sacriiice. 
Forgive her! 'tis her woman's spirit dies 
Upon thj altar, custom's saci'itice. 
Carry her pi'ajer to God, sweet Breath of June, 
For penitents, at least in Heaven, there's room. 

TDEEFECTED Breath! the time shall come when men, 

Weary of sin, shall turn to Heaven again. 
In lumian hearts no evil shall have l)irth, 




"Where feathered choristers fron bush and sod, 
Warble a chorus to a listenins: God," 



For the just meek shall reap the rolling earth; 
Nor Bal^el's head, again o'er Shinar tower 
To mock the mercy of a Saviour's power; 
But all mankind, one people with one tongue. 
To the Messiah, raise a welcoming song: 
And a glad earth Thy hreath and garl) i-esume 
In royal robes receive llim-Final June! 

TDERPETUAL Breath, did not the Hand divine 
Set June lirst month upon the wheel of times' 
Perpetual June, shall not Thy Morn-Breath stay 
When time and seasons shall ha\e passed away? 

TN that last morning, whose unbounded light 
Shall see no noon, no sunset, and no night; 




\ ,>,\ 






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"Worn with the revels of the ma3king night, 
Her painted cheek shuns day's disclosing light," 



Ill that last morning when, in every clime, 
Eternal power shall stop the wheels of time, 
And check the busy seasons as they run — 
T'will halt the earth ])eneath June's morning sun. 
Of day eternal June shall be the soul; 
And spread its sweetness even to the pole: 
Sahara's desert, June's bright green shall wear, 
And Iceland's mountains June's red rose shall bear. 
No fickle spring shall ever Weep again, 
Nor for earth's fountains winter forge a chain. 
No hot July shall imitate its ]»loom. 
Nor scorching August wither with its noon; 
Nor autumn's breath prepare for winter's tomb, 
That heavenly beauty, that is only June. 




"Carry her prayer to God sweet Breath of June." 



/^^NCE I ascended in a ship of air, 

To tind the houndarv where conjunction's made; 
To find wliat part of Thee is eai'tli so rare, 
What part from Heaven had straye<h 
But I descended soon, for mortal cannot tind 
Where earth leaves off, where Heaven to earth is joined. 

TT'AEEWELL! thou fairest of the rosy ti-ain; 

We know sweet Breath, thouFt visit us again — 
Good-l)_y! another month with youth elate 
Ambitious Idushes at day's Eastern i>ate; 




"A thousand times" Gooa-by. 



While peering hope, and ^ud regret, 
In every heart doth cry, 
Lilce Juliet from her balcony, 
"A thousand times," Good-l)y! 





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